Emerald Isles Development To Be Finished, Finally

DAVIE -- John Concordia says he and his neighbors fought long and hard for the completion of their condominium complex, nicknamed in recent years as the ``Ruins of Davie.

Twelve years of waiting finally persuaded Concordia to give up.

Although he gave up the battle, Concordia said he`s thankful that he stayed at the unfinished Emerald Isles development.

The Broward County Commission last week approved developer Ben Gamel`s plans to complete 216 units at the 11-acre complex, on Griffin Road just west of Southwest 61st Avenue.

Construction of Emerald Isles began in 1972, but stopped in 1974 with only one 48-unit phase of a proposed five-phase development finished. Attempts by residents and town officials to intercede failed because the property had been protected by the federal bankruptcy courts.

Since Gamel has taken over the project, residents have become more optimistic about the future of the development.